SCHOOL NEWS

Learning

Year Three News

Year Three is an exciting year full of new experiences and opportunities for the children, especially as we focus on receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We will work alongside the Year Three children to assist them to grow in spirituality as they approach Term Four, when they will receive the Sacrament.

 

In Religion, the focus will be on the importance of human life. We will marvel at how God created human beings so that they can do and enjoy so many things. He created our souls, so that they never die and He created heaven so that we can live with Jesus forever. The children will explore the Sacrament of Baptism and come to understand that by being baptised they have joined God’s family. We will follow Jesus’ journey during Lent and look at how He died so that we could enter Heaven.

 

In Mathematics, the children will focus on the number system as they explore place value of numbers to the ten thousands. The children will focus on reading and writing numbers and understand that a digit in one place represents ten times what it represents in the place to its right. They will use their prior knowledge of addition and subtraction to recognise the relationship between the two and build strong mental strategies. Reading and graphing data will also be a focus.

 

During English, the children will read for pleasure and for information. We will focus on the six strategies of Comprehension, Visualising, Summarising, Inferring, Questioning, Making Connections, as well as Decoding. They will be exposed to a variety of text types, in particular narratives and persuasive texts. The children will develop new skills to construct strong persuasive arguments and creative narratives. Spelling will be individualised to each child’s ability. 

 

Our Integrated Studies programme focuses on linking the children’s knowledge and experiences through all learning areas. They will be discovering the importance of community and the role our community plays in our lives. The children will look at how the community has changed over time and how we make democratic decisions in our society. During this unit of study, they will learn about how celebrations are undertaken within different cultures. They will also celebrate and learn about different events that occur throughout the year.

 

In Science, Mr Capolingua will support the children to learn about Biological Sciences. They will focus on classifying living and non-living things and recognise their features and characteristics such as growing, moving, sensitivity and reproducing. The children will continue to develop their science inquiry skills by planning, conducting, and evaluating scientific investigations and communicate their findings. It will be an exciting year of Science with Mr Capolingua!

 

In Health, the children will focus on developing their own interpersonal skills and emotional wellness. Children will learn strategies to help them manage their emotions and understand the concept of self-esteem.

 

In Music, Mrs Boddy is eager to work with the children to help them develop their musical knowledge. They will extend their understanding of the elements of music as they develop their aural skills as well as recognise and discriminate between rhythm and beat. Every Thursday the children will take part in Liturgical Singing which will allow them to join together in musical prayer.

 

In Physical Education, Class Sport and Morning Fitness the children will focus on crossing the midline and balancing skills. These gross motor skills will also assist in their cognitive development and are crucial for healthy development. 

 

Technology is a large part of the Year Three programme and is integrated into each learning area. We will focus on developing the children’s individual technology skills by using applications that will enhance their presentations, allow them to discover new content and record their understandings.  The children have all unpacked the school’s iPad expectations and understand the role of ICT in our classroom. We will initially focus upon building up the children’s skills by focusing on individual apps to ensure the children master their understanding and skills.

 

Every Thursday afternoon in the soon to be named Innovations and Technology Centre, the children will complete a range of activities based around the technologies curriculum and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths) concepts. Class teachers will work alongside Miss Mitzi Phoebe to assist students in working collaboratively to solve problems, develop creativity and think critically, while making cross-curricular links with class topics.

 

Swimming Lessons

This year Swimming lessons will be increased to two days for children in Year 4-6. They will be held in Week 4 and 5. They will again be held at Bayswater Waves where the children will be supported by a qualified instructor to develop their strokes and confidence in the pool.  

The dates and times for each year level are as follows:

Year 4

-*Thursday 23 February (11am–1:30pm)

- Friday 24 February  (12:00pm–2:30pm)

 Year 5

- Monday 27 February (12:00pm–2:30pm)

- Tuesday 28 February (12:00pm–2:30pm)    

 Year 6

- Wednesday 1 March (12:00pm–2:30pm)

- *Thursday 2 March (11am–1:30pm)

*Please note that lessons on Thursdays are slightly earlier.

The children will leave by bus at 11:30am and return to school at 2:45pm (10:30am and return at 1:45pm on Thursdays). Below are a few reminders for parents and children.

•    The swimming session commences at 12:00pm and will conclude at 2:30pm. On Thursdays, the lesson will start at 11:00am and conclude at 1:30pm.

•    The children will be transported to and from the pool by bus and will be accompanied by myself and their classroom teachers

•    The children will be in groups according to their swimming ability and will have a qualified swimming instructor taking them for the session where they will focus on skill development.

•    The children are encouraged to have a larger meal at recess and take a snack to the pool to be eaten in the break between swimming.

•    The children will need to bring to school in a separate bag their towel, thongs, drink bottle, light snack and may also choose to wear goggles and a swimming cap.  Bathers may be worn to school beneath their school uniform, but must not be able to be seen. If their bathers are longer than their uniform, then they may get changed before we go.

•    Children can come dressed in their sports uniform for the day of their swimming sessions.

 

The children will NOT be getting changed out of their bathers when back at school. If they are attending on a Thursday, then the children can get changed if they need. As the children will be arriving back to school close to 3:00pm they can go home in their bathers. Children must change out of their thongs before leaving the classroom.

If your child has not returned the form indicating their swimming level, then please do so as soon as possible so they can be put into swimming groups.

Mr Sheridan

PE/Sport Teacher

Engagement

P & F News

P&F MEETING

The next P&F meeting will be held on Tuesday  21 February at 7pm in the school office.  Agenda items being discussed are the Welcome Back Picnic and 2017 proposed fundraising.  All are welcome, we hope to see you there!

 

FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE MEETING

The first 2017 Fundraising Committee Meeting will be held Thursday  16 February, 7pm at Fast Eddys Morley.  All are welcome, we hope to see you there!

 

WELCOME BACK PICNIC 

The traditional Infant Jesus School Family Picnic will be held on Friday  24 February, 5:30pm - 8.00pm on the school oval. We have several food trucks joining us. Thanks to Hey Pesto, Vinces Pizza and Mr Whippy for coming along! Not all vans will have eftpos facilities so please bring cash with you.

 

There will be a bouncy castle, obstacle course and face painting to entertain the kids. Children are welcome to use the play equipment at parents discretion and with parent supervision. We look forward to seeing you all there!

 

P&F SUBCOMMITTEES

As you will remember the P&F now has four subcommittees which parents are welcome to join at any time.  Committees are:

  • Social Committee
  • Fundraising Committee
  • IJ Care
  • Parent Education

If you wish to assist on any of the above committees please  email Nicola Cecchele at president.pafc@gmail.com. Information relating to proposed meetings will be published in the Veritas and on Facebook, so please keep an eye out for meeting dates.

Nicola Cecchele

P&F President

Canteen News 

Friday 17 February

Pauline Spence, Billie De Witt, Rosanna Monastra

Monday 20 February

Nicole Mesiti, Felicia Castrianni, Leah Wilson

Wednesday 22 February

Sarah McMenemy, Alison  Wilathgamuwa

Accountability 

My eDiary 

 

All parents in Year 3-6 have now been sent the link to My eDiary.  The App does not have the full functionality as the web-based application. If you would like to communicate with teachers via the electronic diary you need to make sure that you are using the web, rather than the mobile version - as we have found that there are some limitations with the app version - which they are working with developers to rectify. 

 

Download the app to receive notifications for newly assigned homework due dates, reminders, school events, announcements, newsletters and more.

https://itunes.apple.com/au/app/myediary/id1157372218?mt=8

 

How to view homework - http://help.myediary.com.au/article/54-how-can-i-view-my-childs-homework-in-the-ediary

 

How to send messages to teachers - http://help.myediary.com.au/article/75-how-can-i-send-a-message-to-my-childs-teacher

 

How to use the app - http://help.myediary.com.au/article/144-myediary-mobile-view-parents

 

  

Volunteer Workshop

Today we had over 40 parents/grandparents participate in the Parent Volunteer Workshop .

 

The value of volunteers is seen through 

-teachers and parents working together

-better communication between home and school.

-greater understanding by parents of their children's schooling

-greater understanding of the tole of teacher and the planning and  organsation required within a classroom

-greater goodwll and mutual respect between parents and teachers

-children seeing their parents and teachers sharing common beliefs, attitudes and goals

-more opportunity to see adults, both teachers and parents, as role models - the value of education is shared between the home and the school.

 

We are looking forward to working with all those who contribute to our school by giving of their time and volunteering to help us.

 

Discipleship 

http://www.therecord.com.au

 

19 Feb SUNDAY AFTERNOON SERVICE AND DISCUSSION

The combined Catholic Churches of Maylands cordially invite you to a Sunday Afternoon Service and Discussion, 19 February  3-5pm at Our Lady Queen of Poland Catholic Church, 35 Eighth Ave Maylands. Discussion will be on "A place at the Table, Social Justice in an Ageing Society."  2016/17 Social Justice Statement of the Australian Catholic Bishops, this gathering is in response to the Bishops' Statement. The program will consist of a brief service in the Church, introduction and discussion in the Church Hall, followed by light refreshments later. Further info: Mrs Libby Giles 0450 907 048; Fr Stanislaw Tomasiak O.F.M.  0488 900 449; Fr Tomasz Bujakowski O.F.M. 9272 2154 & Fr Richard Charlwood 0439 622 056.

 

17-19 Mar LAUDATO SI’ WEEKEND RETREAT 1

Brother Terry Casey and Sr Shelly Barlow RNDM, are offering a series of  four Laudato Si Weekend Retreats across March to July. The first of the Weekend Retreats will be on Friday 17 March, 4pm to Sunday 19 March, 2pm, at Kilmolee, Safety Bay, Ministry of the Josephite Sisters, 182 Arcadia Drive, Safety Bay.

Further info: flyer and registration contact Sr Shelley Barlow RNDM  08 9271 3873, 0499 352 899 or smbarlowrndm@gmail.com; or Br Terry Casey CFC, 0422 966 453, tmcasey@edmundrice.org

Parish News

SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION ENROLMENT MASSES

All families who wish to enrol their child for the Sacrament of Confirmation at Infant Jesus Church this year are required to attend ONE of the following enrolment Masses:

·      Saturday 11 March at 6.30pm OR

·      Sunday 12 March  at 9.30am  OR  

·      Sunday 12 March  at 6.00pm.

 

Please remember to register your child's name and your contact details at the church foyer before or after the Mass. 

 

MORLEY YOUTH GROUP

Infant Jesus Parish 24:7 Morley Youth Group

All youth in Years 6-12 are invited to join us this Friday night, 6-8pm in the Parish Hall!

For more info call Roger 0434 988 711 or Elizabeth 0410 554 393

Artisans of Peace - World Day of Peace 50th Celebration 

It is a time to ponder what this New Year might hold for each individual, our nation and our world.  May our hearts be open to receive the gifts that the God of New Beginnings will bestow on us during this year.

 

This New Year marks the 50th celebration of the World Day of Peace.  Pope Paul IV introduced the commemoration of the World Day of Peace in 1967.  This year Pope Francis' message is entitled 'Nonviolence - A style of politics for peace'. He concludes his message by inviting each one of us to become 'an artisan of peace'. His message is so timely in a world torn apart by war and conflict. He challenges people across the world to seek a pathway to peace through a nonviolent approach.  Let us pray in the words of St Francis: 'Make me an instrument of peace where there is hatred let me show love'.

 

Daily there are women and men who dedicate themselves to being such instruments of nonviolence.  

 

Let us pray that Jesus' nonviolent approach to life will enable us to find creative solutions to the many conflictual realities that arise in our daily lives, and in the hearts of world leaders. 

 

'Let us make active nonviolence our way of life'.  (Pope Francis 2017)

May the blessing of peace be yours as we begin this New Year. 

 

May this peace begin in your own heart, words and gestures and may it flow freely from you into your world of influence.  

 

 (from Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart Newsletter - Sr Monica Cavanagh rsj

Congregational Leader )